PRESS
RELEASE
State Department of Agriculture & Industries Announces
Layoffs
MONTGOMERY – Layoff
notices went out this week to 17 employees in the Alabama Department of
Agriculture & Industries with more to come next week. Agriculture &
Industries Commissioner John McMillan met personally with several laid-off
employees and plans to meet with more.
“Since coming into this
office in January, we have been candid and open with employees that the
Department of Agriculture & Industries is in poor fiscal health,” McMillan
said. “We live in extraordinary times when government at all levels is low on
funding. Our situation is no different.”
With 15% proration, McMillan
said Agriculture & Industries’ share of the General Fund means a cut of
$2.3 million immediately. The Department faces another $4.7 million cut for the
2012 fiscal year.
“It’s deeply troubling, but
we have had no other choice but to reduce staff,” McMillan said. “The 17
employees notified today are the first round of reductions. There will be more
layoffs next week and a third round soon thereafter.”
Laid-off employees will be on
the Department payroll through April.
“We further anticipate
passage of furlough legislation that will enable us to minimize the number of
layoffs in 2012 while meeting our budget obligations,” McMillan added.
The Alabama Department of
Agriculture & Industries is responsible for protecting the safety of the
state’s food supply and is the regulatory agency for the state’s $5 billion
agriculture and agribusinesses industries.
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